Coupons Team Workouts: Fitbit & Lap Swimming

Our last two Coupons.com team members are here to share their summer workout routine with you. Lisa tackled her lethargy with the Fitbit while Berna took up swimming. Which of these Coupons team workouts would you try?

Name: Lisa Thompson
Job: Marketing Copywriter
Age: 49
Stats: 5’6″

The Goal: Since I spend so much time in front of my laptop, I was feeling lethargic and unmotivated to get out and move, which is a shame considering I live in a state with beautiful weather year round and amazing scenery. Lethargy was breeding lethargy, so to speak—so I decided I needed something to get me away from my desk and off the couch. I’d read about the Fitbit and how the device tracks your steps throughout the day, so I purchased one and set my goal at 10,000 steps. I’d estimate that, before the Fitbit, I was lucky to get in 5,000 steps a day.

The Workout: I varied my workouts between walking/running on a nearby trail, working out on the elliptical in the gym, walking on a treadmill desk at work, and my favorite—hiking on the weekends. The way the Fitbit works: You wear it on your wrist, and it basically just tracks your steps throughout the day. The device itself doesn’t tell you anything, but when you sync it with the Fitbit app on your smartphone, you can get a lot of information, like how many steps you’ve taken, approximate calories you’ve burned, etc. You can also track your food throughout the day, and some of the Fitbit models even track your sleep cycles.

The Results: I definitely increased my activity! The challenge of getting in those 10,000 steps a day was always on my mind, and honestly, to get that many steps in, it really required a workout of some type. I found that if I could get in at least three miles of walking or running, I’d easily hit my goal. On the days when I couldn’t hike, run or walk a significant distance, I’d rarely reach 10,000 steps, mostly due to the sedentary nature of my job. So having this little plastic band on my wrist was a definite motivator to get up and moving. My legs are more toned and I just feel better—less lethargic.

What You Liked/Didn’t Like: I love swimming so I was looking forward to the workout. I also started swimming on Mondays and Wednesdays at the pro-swim team, which really helps me get better at my pace and swim longer without getting tired.

Before you shop: This is the lat post in our series of team workouts by the Coupons.com staff. Consider trying the Fitbit and incorporating a swim routine into your summer workout for the best results.